Thursday, January 17, 2008

Book review: Home to Holly Springs

I always underestimate Jan Karon, and expect too little of her as a storyteller, and she always surprises me with her quality. Take this story... it is the story of Father Tim's childhood in Holly Springs, Mississippi, which was a time of severe racial oppression in that place. I had misgivings that she would downplay the oppression, and indeed the ugliness of it isn't as deeply felt as in some works. Yet Karon explores the complexity of racial relations through complex and well-portrayed family relationships. Recommended.

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Feeling down? Beaten-up? Not sure from what direction the next hit will come? CYPHER KEY by A.D. Upchurch (yes, his real name) is a blessing. Mr. Upchurch reminds us of what's important, in a kind of simple poetry that goes in as easily as chocolate, smooth as whipped cream. "Stop to see life," he reminds us, in his poem "Focus." "I am one of many in the universal mind/This is so real for me and so divined" (from "Brain Cell"). Simple stuff, written from a profound, personal depth. I recommend this book . . . Mr. L.H. Fox, Language Arts Teacher, Maryland

By William Huff "Logos Voyeur"

Cypher Key is the most marvelous collection of inspiring poems I've ever discovered in my 66 years.

Each poem is a masterpiece of esoteric thought.

The whole collection of 40 poems is replete with the Wisdom of the Ages.

The book takes us to the heights of spirituality.

It deals with all the important themes of life on the Path.

Besides the 40 wonderful and meaningful poems, the book also contains great powerful quotes in the Wisdom Tradition.

The young poet, Artice Upchurch, is truly a master of wisdom, reminding us of the young Jesus preaching to the wise men in the Temple.

For any lover of great poetry and any lover of Wisdom, Cypher Key is a must read.